(1951)4.5Richard GilliamA PLACE IN THE SUN removes much of the insight and depth of Theodore Dreiser's source novel, taking just the plot and turning it into a solidly entertaining Hollywood production. Director George Stevens was a capable craftsman who understood the advantages of a studio's resources. He shows his skills in combining top-grade stars and a powerful story, while giving the film a glossy veneer of class. The performances are generally strong, most notably Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor. Helped strongly by its first-rate tech credits, the film won six Oscars, including for director Stevens, costume designer Edith Head, and composer Franz Waxman, though the Best Picture nod went to An American in Paris.
